Mo’s Moment: Yanks honor iconic closer

NEW YORK — Mariano Rivera made his legacy pitching in clutch moments.

And now, three years after retiring at the top of his game at the age of 43, Rivera may not be throwing the cut fastball he made famous anymore, but he still has the mentality that made him dominant.

“I think you look for those moments,” Rivera said. “I must be a masochist, but I look for those moments.”

Thanks in large part to those moments, the Yankees honored Rivera’s 19-year career Sunday by unveiling his Monument Park plaque. The man known as “Mo” is baseball’s all-time leader in saves (652) and games finished (952), as well as the pitcher with the best career WHIP since the 1920s at 1.00. And that doesn’t even count his postseason history, in which he saved 42 games, closed out four World Series and posted a 0.70 ERA in 141 innings.

Rivera is the ninth pitcher to have a plaque in Monument Park, joining Hall of Famers Lefty Gomez, Whitey Ford, Red Ruffing and Goose Gossage, as well as Allie Reynolds, Ron Guidry, longtime teammate Andy Pettitte and longtime pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre. But when asked about the importance of this honor, Rivera didn’t mention his fellow pitchers. Instead, Rivera couldn’t help but marvel at the baseball legends he’s now immortalized beside.

“It’s amazing, …

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